Jackson Chourio just snagged the NLDS MVP, and get this: he only hit .188 in the four-game series. Seriously. While stats usually tell the whole story, Chourio’s three hits were so unbelievably clutch that he walked away with the hardware, proving sometimes impact crushes batting average.
Chourio’s Clutch Hits & The Brewers’ NLCS Berth
The Milwaukee Brewers are headed to the NLCS to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, and they can thank Jackson Chourio for some serious heroics. This dude went just 3 for 16, a measly .188 average, but those three hits? They were everything. His performance overshadowed some really strong outings from his own teammates, like William Contreras, who went 6 for 16 with two homers, and Christian Yelich, who was 5 for 14. That tells you just how impactful Chourio’s moments were. It’s a wild stat line for an MVP, but the man delivered when it counted, putting his team on the path to the Championship Series.
Rasmussen’s Dominance and the Rays’ Sweep
Over in the AL, Drew Rasmussen from the Tampa Bay Rays absolutely shut down the New York Yankees, earning himself the ALDS MVP. The Rays swept the Yankees, but don’t let the sweep fool you, it wasn’t a cakewalk. They won two one-run games and a three-run game, even needing the Yankees to pull a Little League impression in Game 2, where three of the Rays’ five runs were unearned thanks to New York’s blunders. Plus, the Rays’ offense wasn’t exactly lighting it up, hitting a paltry .208/.255/.344 for the series.
Jonathan Aranda had a super strong case for MVP, going 4 for 12 and hitting the solo homer that sealed a 1-0 win in Game 1. But Rasmussen? He made that solo homer stand up, taking a no-hitter deep into the eighth inning. The man struck out 10 and was just sensational. Rays manager Kevin Cash nailed it, saying, “I think he’s pretty special and dialed in most nights… For him to limit it that way speaks loudest about how good he was tonight.” Rasmussen didn’t just win, he absolutely dominated, leading all players in the series in both win probability and championship probability added. This guy has been a Yankees Killer his whole career, rocking a 1.81 ERA in 11 starts against them, and he absolutely proved it again in Game 1. The Rays now wait to see if it’ll be the Chicago White Sox or Cleveland Guardians joining them in the ALCS. The White Sox have a 2-1 series lead and could punch their ticket as soon as Thursday night, looking for their first ALCS since 2005. The Guardians, meanwhile, are fighting to avoid blowing an 0-2 deficit, which is exactly what Cleveland did back in 2017.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply